River Action's E-Tour brings new technology to the riverfront and creates opportunities to engage new audiences. QR Codes and web addresses have replaced the phone numbers from River Action’s Audio Tour. 
Check out the 2019 'Explore the River Series'
Explore the river this summer through a program which teaches participants first-hand about the wildlife, history, culture and geology of the Mississippi River and the Quad Cities through Channel Cat Talks and Riverine Walks, May 28 through August 31.
Join us in learning about the unique nature and culture of the Quad Cities. Check out our schedule below and register online.
We'd like to extend a special thanks to to our sponsors this year: Illinois Humanities, US Bank, Quad City Times, MetroLINK, Mancomm, Greg & Judy Gackle, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
When registering online, the shopping cart will add the two programs (Channel Cat Talks and Riverine Walks) together unless you "Clear" the cart between viewing the two different shopping cart links below.
Popular I-74 Bridge project tours back
This year there will be a total of eight Channel Cat Talks focused on the new I-74 Mississippi River Bridge Project aboard the Channel Cat Water Taxi.
Sorry, the I-74 tours are sold out.
Join Danielle Mulholland, I-74 project manager, as she discusses the planning and construction process for this important east-west link in the nation’s transportation network. You'll learn about the design and building process of the new $1.2 billion bridge and get the latest updates on construction.
The Channel Cat will leave from the Riverbend Commons dock, 2951 East River Dr, Moline. These programs are $20 a person.
Register for Channel Cat Talks/Riverine Walks
CLICK HERE to register online for Channel Cat Talks.
CLICK HERE to register online for Riverine Walks.
CLICK HERE to download a copy of the 2019 Explore the River Series brochure.
If the captain or Riverine Walk leader cancels, a rain date may be scheduled. If you have paid and are unable to attend, River Action will consider your payment a donation. No refunds will be given.
New in 2019 – Art Along the River
For five Sundays, special "Art Along the River" sessions will be held as part of the Explore the River Series.
The programs, which cost $5 for non-members of River Action, include:
- Poetry along the Banks with poet laureate Dick Stahl, Sunday, May 19. Participants will get a short introduction to the art of poetry writing and have an opportunity to write about a river sight or experience. New location: Schwiebert Park, Rock Island.
- Painting: The River and its Structures with watercolor artist Tom Hempel, Sunday, June 23. Participants will do a personal individual sketch with coloring. Meet at Bechtel Park, Davenport.
- Readers' Theater: 2 p.m., Sunday, July 14. New location: Lower Lindsay Park, Davenport, close to the John Bloom statute of two young boys pointing to a ferry on the Mississippi River. We will take a part in a readers' theater drama about various people coming to Iowa across the river. Everyone will have a chance to read a part in the play, but no preparation is necessary in advance. Bring a folding chair and park in the lot near the Channel Cat landing.
- Native American Drumming with Regina Tsosie, Sunday August 11. Participants will receive an introduction to cultural and artistic aspect of Native American drumming. Meet at Watch Tower Lodge at Black Hawk State Historic Site, Rock Island.
- Painting: The River Atmosphere with artist Stacey Replinger. Participants will learn techniques for making clouds, the sky, trees and water. After a short painting demonstration, participants will create their own watercolor painting.
To register for any of the five Sunday 'Art Along the River' sessions, CLICK ON THIS LINK, or select from the list of Riverine Walks by clicking on the registration link above.
Volunteers Needed for Channel Cat Talks & Riverine Walks
Channel Cat Talks
Channel Cat Talk participants tour the Mississippi River aboard the Channel Cat Water Taxi, while experts narrate. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Riverbend Commons Dock, 2951 E. River Dr, Moline, Ill. Headsets are provided to all Channel Cat Talk attendees for each session so you can clearly hear the presentations! Channel Cat Talks are $14 per person.
Rescheduled to July 2 and 3 | Set Sail with Don Allebach.
Rescheduled to July 10 | Photography: On and Near the River with Brian Tugana.
Rescheduled to September 10 and 12 | Hydro Potential with Roger Viadero, Ph.D
June 18 and June 20 | The History of Fort Armstrong and Arsenal Island with historian Gena Schantz.
June 25 and June 27 | What does the U.S. Coast Guard do? with Mack Parker, of the U.S. Coast Guard.
July 9 and July 11 | Raptors along the River with naturalist Dave Murcia.
July 16 and July 18 | Historic Bridges of the Quad Cities with historian Curtis Roseman, Ph.D.
July 23 and July 25 | Where does all the sand and gravel come from? with Brian Dockery of RiverStone Group.
July 30 and August 1 | Beiderbecke and Bellson with Josh Duffee of the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Society.
August 6 and August 8 | Development in the QC with Bill Ashton of Ashton Engineering.
August 13 and August 15 | River Landscape Mosaic, Augustana College professors Dr. Norm Moline and Dr. Reuben Heine.
August 20 and August 22 | Opertions and Maintenance of the Nation's Waterways with Josh Hendrix, geotechnical engineer, and Anthony Huddlesten, civil engineer, with the USACE.
August 27 and August 29) | Midwest Precipitation: Past, Present and Future with Ray Wolff of NOAA.
Riverine Walks
Riverine Walk participants explore the Quad Cities through a series of guided walks. Wednesday talks from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday talks are from 9 a.m . to 10:30 a.m. Each walk will meet at a different location. See below for details. If you are curious about the terrain or difficulty of a walk please call River Action for more information (563) 322-2969. Riverine Walks are $6 per person and FREE for River Action members.
May 29 and June 1 | Walk with a Doc with Cheryl True, M.D. Meet at Leach Park, Bettendorf.
June 8 | Understanding Flood Plains and Floodplain Management with Wayne Wille, a certified flood plain manager. From 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Admission is $6 and walk-up registration is allowed. Meet at northeast corner of the Quad City Times parking lot (new location).
June 12 and June 15 | The Center of Black Hawk's Universe: History and Archaeology at the mouth of the Rock River with Ferrel Anderson. Meets at Watch Tower Lodge, Black Hawk State Historic Site, Rock Island, west parking lot.
June 19 and June 22 | Riverside Cemetery with Kathleen Seusy. Meet at Riverside Cemetery mausoleum, 2900 6th Ave., Moline.
June 26 and June 29 | A Walk on the Wild Side with naturalist Chuck Wester. Meet at parking lot west of the lodge at Black Hawk State Historic Site, Rock Island.
July 10 and July 13 | Barge Fleeting with Walt Bassow. Meet at Upper Mississippi Fleeting, 128 Front St., Buffalo.
July 17 and July 20 | Sylvan Island Area: History, Recreation, and Sustainability, Dr. Norm Moline, Augustana College. Meet at Sylvan Island Gateway Park.
July 24 and July 27 | Historic Moline with historian Curtis Roseman. Meet at Moline waterfront just east of TGI Friday's restaurant.
July 31 and August 3 | River Confluence: Historical Importance, Recreation Potentials with Dr. Norm Moline. Meet at parking lot, Big Island Road, Hennepin Canal Lock 31, Milan.
August 7 and August 10 | Downtown Rock Island: The Past is the Future with Miles Brainard, urban planner. Meet at Schwiebert Riverfront Park, Rock Island.
August 14 and August 17 | Deep Maps – Historic Geography of Pool 16 of the Mississippi River with Dr. Reuben Heine. Meet at the north end of Lake Potter at Sunset Park, 18th Avenue, Rock Island.
August 21 and August 24 | Best Management Practices within an Urban/Riparian Interface with Brittany Ackerland, City of Davenport. Meet at Duck Creek Park trailhead.
August 28 and August 31 | Messy Fields make Good Neighbors with farm operators Jennifer and Robb Ewoldt. Meet at the red machine shed at Ewoldt farm, 10386 130th St., Davenport.
CLICK HERE to register online for Channel Cat Talks.
CLICK HERE to register online for Riverine Walks.
CLICK HERE to download a copy of the 2019 Explore the River Series brochure.
If the captain or Riverine Walk leader cancels, a rain date may be scheduled. No refunds.
